INGWE END MAMBA’S THREE-PEAT DREAM

BIG BEND – Royal Leopard emerged triumphant from a fiercely competitive encounter against Green Mamba, claiming a hard-fought 1-0 win under the scorching sun at Mayaluka Stadium yesterday.

The momentous match, witnessed by a crowd of over 1 000 passionate supporters, saw Edwin Matsebula’s Royal Leopard extinguish Green Mamba’s hopes of securing a third consecutive Ingwenyama Cup victory, thus dashing the team’s aspirations of matching Mbabane Swallows’ historic hat-trick of triumphs.

With the main prize of E1.45 million eluding Green Mamba’s grasp, the team will now have to come to terms with the reality of relinquishing their hard-earned crown. For tournament veteran Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, this year’s Ingwenyama Cup proved to be a disappointing affair, with the star striker failing to replicate the heroics that propelled him to a coveted seven-goal tally in the previous edition.

Unable to rediscover his scoring touch, Ndzinisa’s barren run in front of goal robbed him of the chance to defend his prestigious accolades of player of the tournament and top goalscorer, leaving his ambitions for glory unfulfilled. Coming into the game, the absence of midfield maestro Innocent ‘Makhehleni’ Dlamini, who recently departed for Young Buffaloes, cast a looming shadow over the hosts as they entered the match against their rivals.

In an effort to adjust Dlamini’s departure, Coach Ernest Mavuso experimented with the versatile Peter ‘Road Block’ Dlamini as a defensive midfielder, resulting in a somewhat uncharacteristic style of play in the opening stages of the match. With both sides cautiously sizing each other up, the contest saw few chances being created during the first 15 minutes.

But the quiet stalemate was broken in the 15th minute when Ingwe Mabalabala struck against the run of play, with Thokozani ‘Thukithi’ Dlamini nodding home a precise cross from Felix ‘Fela’ Badernhorst, who had wriggled his way through the opposition’s defence. The opportunistic score jolted Inyoka Eluhlazane into action, as they resumed their favoured possession-based football in an attempt to pull level.

Despite the Ingwenyama Cup defending champions’ renewed efforts, their attempts to penetrate the Leopard backline proved futile as the first-half drew to a close. In the dying moments of the opening period, the visitors could have doubled their advantage, but Badernhorst’s point-blank effort was thwarted by a diving goalkeeper, Xolani ‘Xoxo’ Gama.

As the FIFA-accredited referee Thembinkosi ‘ Dovos’ Dlamini signalled for half-time, the scoreline remained in favour of the visitors, who should have led comfortably at the break if it were not for missed chances. Trailing by a goal at half-time, the home side’s response was swift and decisive as they ushered Mbutfo Dlamini onto the pitch in place of a subdued Mbongeni ‘Mshishi’ Magagula at the start of the second half. This substitution injected a renewed sense of urgency into the team, as they ramped up their attacks on the Leopard defence.

The fightback was epitomised by Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovo’s squandered opportunity in the 50th minute, as he sent a wayward effort over the crossbar. Green Mamba continued to pile on the pressure in search of an equaliser, leaving Royal Leopard’s backline scrambling to contain their offensive onslaught.  Ndzinisa came agonisingly close to restoring parity in the 78th minute, but his attempt was thwarted by Mzwandile Mabelesa.

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